San Bernardino Police: Missing Art Student Was In A Shelter Dealing With Private Issues
SAN BERNARDINO (CBSLA.com) — San Bernardino art student Sahray Barber was safely back with her family Friday nearly two weeks after she was reported missing.
The 22-year-old contacted her father Thursday night after seeing herself on the news to let him know she was OK, according to San Bernardino police.
She had been in the Los Angeles area at a shelter the past 10 days and was not being held against her will.
Barber was reported missing March 9 by her roommates after she left home but never turned up at her job at the Art Institute's campus library.
A vigil was held Thursday night at her former high school in Victorville.
Barber's parents were noticeably absent from that vigil. Hours later, it was revealed they had gone to the San Bernardino police station to retrieve Sahray.
Police tweeted the news.
"God has righteously answered all of our prayers in guiding Sahray back to us. For this, we are ecstatic and so very thankful," Barber's father Stephen said. "We ask that you respect our privacy and you allow law enforcement to continue their investigation unhindered. A huge worldwide Thank You for all the prayers and support. God Bless!"
Details regarding her disappearance or her whereabouts were not released. Lt. Rich Lawhead would only say she was not being held against her will and had been dealing with some private issues: "It didn't have to do with anything criminal. She wasn't being held against her will or anything like that."
"This kinda tops the chart right now for kinda strange. Especially because of the direction we were led in initially," Lawhead said.
Foul play initially was suspected and police even said they had two persons of interest in her disappearance.
During the search for Barber, thousands of dollars were spent in resources, and investigators say criminal action will be sought if they determine anyone intentionally misled them.
